The Senegalese international was a sensation following his switch from Freiburg to St James' Park in January as he struck 13 times in 14 appearances but this season he has found the net only three times.

"I am talking to him and trying to calm him, tell him that he's still the same player and we are still very confident in him," Pardew told reporters.

"It's only been a small period if you compare it to, say Torres' period, but you would have to say it's something we are going to have to keep an eye on because we don't want it to end up like poor old Torres has ended up at times.

"He's a great player, Papiss, and we want to get the best out of him."

Cisse has struggled for Premier League action this season and has only found the net once in the league ahead of the Magpies' trip to Stoke City, where Newcastle will be hoping to halt a three-game losing streak.

Pardew added: "It doesn't help your mood. You have to lift yourself and look for the positives.

"The training ground is a negative place, to a degree, because everyone is feeling a little bit sorry for themselves, and you have to shake that out and be professional about it.

"But it does affect your mood, you can't help that, and there's a determination on our training ground to put it right."